Engine lubrication



Feb. 23, 1932. c 1 MOCUEN 1,846,267 v ENGINE LUBRICATION Filed July 9, 1927 Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr.

UHABLES LEROY MCCUEN, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ENGINE LUBRIGATION Application filed July 9, 1927. Serial No. 204,563.

This invention relates to automotive vehicles and particularly to a system of lubrication for the engine cylinders.

In the past, some difficulty has been experienced in starting internal combustion engines during cold weather and after they had been stand ing idle for a period of time. This has been due principally to the tendency of the pistons to stick and to the fact that the working parts are cold. It is the object of the present invention to overcomethcse difficulties by providing a system of lubrication which will supply to each cylinder a shot of oil during the starting period.

The essential part of the invention consists in the provision of a piston or plunger which will be operated from the starting pedal during the starting of the engine. This piston operates in a cylinder placed preferably beneath the foot board and is actuated by means of a spaced crosshead connected by a link to the. starting pedal. Between the crosshead and the piston provision is made for a coil spring to give a resilient connection. The piston has attached thereto a guiding bolt which slidably passes thru an opening in the crosshead. the function of which is to maintain the piston in alignment with the crosshead and to cause it to move with the crosshead when the latter is in its extreme upper position.

The invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawing,.in which the figure represents a side view of an internal combustion engine used in automotive vehicles with parts shown in section for purposes of clearer illustration.

Referring to the numbered parts on the drawing 10 indicates an internal combustion engine as a whole, 11 the crankcase thereof, 13 the foot board of an automotive vehicle, 14 the starting pedal and 15 the system of linkage for operating the starting motor enclosed within the housing 16.

Pivotally connected to the starting pedal 14- at 17 is a rod or link 18 having an intermediate pin connection 18' and connected at its lower portion by means of a cap 19 to a crosshead 20 operating within a cylinder 21. The crosshead has an openin 22 therethrongh, the lower portion 23 0 which is of reduced diameter.

Connected tothe crosshead 20 by means of a headed bolt 24 is a piston 25. The shank of the bolt 24 is slidable in the reduced portion 23 of the opening 22 of the crosshead and be tween the crosshead and piston 25 there is placed a spring 26 preferably a coil spring, which gives a resilient connection between the cross head and piston.

The crankcase 11 is connected by means of a pipe or conduit 27 to an inlet chamber 28 on the left side of the cylinder 21 shown in the figure. This chamber is provided with a ball check valve 30 pressed by a spring 31 against the seat at the terminus of the pipe 27 within the chamber 28. The cylinder 21 is provided with an inlet port 32 communicating with the inlet chamber 28. t The opposite side of the cylinder 21 is provided with a second or outlet chamber 33 at which there is placed a ball check valve 34 pressed by a spring 35 against the seat 36 in an outlet opening 37 communicating with the cylinder 21. The outlet chamber 33 is provided with an outlet pipe or conduit 38 which terminates in the manifold 39 having a plurality of arms 40, one of which leads to each of the cylinders 41 of the engine 10. Each arm leads to a passage 42 in the engine block and this passage communicates with the cylinder 41, as shown at 43.

The operation of the dcviceis as follows: When the operator presses the pedal 14, the link 18 will force the crosshead 20 downwardly in the c linder 21. If the oil is thin and capable o readily flowing, the spring 26 will be compressed but slightly and the piston 25 will accordingly force the oil therebeneath through the pipe 38 to the oil manifold 89. However, it there is considerable inertia to the oil due to its temperature, or for other causes, the spring 26 will undergo considerable compression and cause the crosshead 20 to substantially come in contact with the piston. As the foot pedal 14 is released, the crosshead 20 will correspondingly rise. However, due to the pressure of the spring 26 on the piston 25, there will be a continued tendency to force the oil through the outlet 38 and toward the cylinders until the crosshead has reached its maximum upward position. The relative movement of the pis ton and the crosshead 20 will be guided at all'times by means of the shank of the bolt 24 passing through the narrowed portion 23 of the opening 22. i

I claim:

1. In a lubricating system for the cylinders of engines of automotive vehicles, movable starting means for said engine, a crosshead operatively connected to said means, a piston connected, to said crosshead, resilient means between said crosshead and piston, a cylinder in which said crosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

2. In a lubricating system for the cylinders of engines of automotive vehicles, movable starting means for said engine, a crosshead operatively connected to said means, a piston connected to said crosshead, a spring between said crosshead and piston, a cylinder in which said erosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

3. In a lubricating system for the cylinders of engines of automotive vehicles, movable starting means for said engine, a crosshead operatively connected to said means, a 1ston connected to said crosshead, resi ent means between said crosshead and piston, a cylinder. in which said crosshead and piston operate, a projecting guide member on said piston sliding through said crosshead, and means for conducting oil to the cylinders in response to movement of the 1 piston.

4. In a lubricating system or the cylinders of engines of automotive vehicles, movable starting means for said engine, a crosshead operatively connected tosaid means, a piston connected to said crossheadg a spring between said crosshead and piston, a cylinder in which said crosshead and piston operate, a projecting guide member on said piston sliding through said crosshead, and means for conducting oil to'the cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

5. In a lubricating system for the cylinders of engines of automotive vehicles movable starting means for said engine, a crosshead operatively connected to said means, said crosshead having an opening therethrough a part of which has a smaller diameter than the remaining portion, a bolt having its head in the larger portion and its shank slidably passing through the smaller portion ofthe opening, a piston connected to said crosshead, said bolt secured to said piston, a spring positioned between the crosshead and piston, a cylinder in which said crosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the engine cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

6. In a lubricating system for automotive vehicles, a device for lubricating the engine cylinders, comprising a crosshead operatively connected to a manually operable member of the vehicle, a piston, 'aspring connecting said piston to said crosshead, a cylinder in which saidcrosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

7 In a lubricating system for automotive vehicles, a device forlubricatin the engine cylinders, comprising a crosshea operatively connected to a manually operable member of the vehicle, a piston, a spring positioned-between and connecting the crosshead and'pis' ten, 0. cylinder in which said crosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

8. In a. lubricating system for automotive vehicles, a device for lubricating the engine cylinders, comprising a crosshea'd operatively connected to a manually operable member of the vehicle, a piston resiliently connected to said crosshead, a projecting member on said piston sliding in an opening in said crossead, a cylinder in which said crosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the en ine cylinders in response to movement of t e iston.

9. In a lu ricating system for automotive.

vehicles, a device for lubricating the engine cylinders, comprising a crosshead operatively connected to a. manually operable member of the vehicle, a piston, a spring resiliently connecting said piston and crosshead, a guiding bolt passing through an opening in said crosshead and secured to said piston, 9. cylinder in which said crosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

10. In a lubricating system for automotive vehicles, a device for lubricating the engine cylinders, comprising a crosshead operatively connected to a manually operable member of the vehicle, a piston, a spring positioned between and resiliently connecting said piston and crosshead, said crosshead having an opening therethrough a part of which has a smaller diameter than the remaining portion, a headed guiding bolt connected to the piston and having its shank slidably passing through the smaller portion of the opening,

a cylinder in which said crosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

11. In a lubricating system for automotive vehicles, a device for lubricating the engine cylinders, comprising a crosshead operatively connected to a manually operable member of the vehicle, a piston resiliently connected to said crosshead, a cylinder in which said crosshead and piston operate, and means for conducting oil to the cylinders in response to movement of the piston.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES LEROY MGCUEN. 

